Freaking the mundanes

[BLAKDUKE]

Many, many moons ago(more than I care to remember)  a faire was held in Columbus GA.  Both my wife and I attended in garb.  My daughter, who was working at the local movie theatre, came down to visit before going to work.  When she was about to leave, since it was on the way home, we offered to take her to work.  As she exited the vehicle, my daughter(who BTW has never learned to keep her big mouth shut) ordered us(her parents) not to get out of the vehicle and embarrass her.  Now we were both very tired, but without missing a beat, my wife and I waited until she was inside the theatre and then we got out and went to the door and waved at her.  The look on her face and on the faces of her fellow employees was priceless.  She did not speak to us for three days.  AAAHHHHHHHHHHHHH  the peace and quiet.

[<Alex>]

  Before Scarlet and I started camping, we would garb up in our apartment and drive to Sherewood Forest Faire (which had just started a year or two prior).  We did this for several weeks during our first season.

   One day I was at work and a co-worker came up to me.  She said that she had seen my wife and I leaving our home every Sunday dressed in robes and other strange clothes. She then asked- making it clear that she was just curious and meant no offense- what religion I practiced.

    Then again, I get asked this question quite often, what with my beard and dreadlocks and all.

[BLAKDUKE]

Living in the deep south(Southern Baptist country), I always used to answer that question with
" I am a Catholic(true)"  and watch them leave vapor trails running away.  Now some years later I find that I have mellowed a bit(yeah sure), so now I just say that I am a druid.  They seem to be a bit more at ease with that.............................

[LadyStitch]

As part of a special thing the PP is doing at his work, he is required to wear his pirate garb.  Due to the wear, he typically will only wear, shirt, vest, pants and boots unless he is 'working', due to the heat.   He had finished his function, so the Fuzzlet and I go and pick him up.  Nothing usual there.  However, it is father's day and all 3 of us are hungry, so we decide to go for lunch.  I had brought mundanes for him to change into but he didn't want to  (see you are rennie if for that one:))  We ended up at Freebirds.  The place is known for it's interesting clientele.  We got a few odd looks coming in and standing in line.  I knew the PP would get a few odd looks, but not fuzzlet and I.  I forgot I was wearing a lady dra shirt, poofy linen capris, and my medieval moccasins. It is my most comfy warm weather outfit.  The fuzzlet was wearing a dress I made her, and her medieval moccasins. We were nearly done with our mean when one of the clerks came over and asked  in sincerity if this was his prefered way of daily dress, or if this was for a special occasion.   We told her yes it was a special thing, but also we liked dressing like we did. 
Later on she came back and said, if his pants had not been carnation pink, she might not have batted an eye.  It isn't often you would see a man as nicely dressed with a waistcoat, pants, and shined boots.

[Tazjia Swiftsail]

My experience is the opposite...sort of an unexpected non-experience.  I went into a Wendy's after SRF in Fulton, NY in full on nobility garb and the cashiers looked up to take my order, as they would anyone else, proceeded to fetch my frosty and fries, and then sent us on our way.  Must be used to our type out there...

I realize this quote is from years ago now but I'm SURE they are used to rennies there, it's at the key LEFT turn after 481 to get to SRF. People must stop there all the time!! I never do but I'm either in a hurry to get there or too tired from the days festivities to stop for food with an hour drive ahead of me. Now to go back and keep reading all these stories!!

[Lady Dragonfly]

This happened a few years ago:  I was going to Bristol (WI) faire, with my dear friend Kris. We stopped at the oasis (me to use the bathroom and her to get some tea from their Starbucks). I offered to get her tea on the way out, so she stayed in the van. I forgot I was wearing my fox tail, and on the way out, I heard a little boy say to his mom (in that whisper that kids do when they think they're being quiet!): "Mom! That lady has a TAIL!"

[EltonJ]

I don't know why mundanes would be freaked.  I'm pretty mundane here by your standards and all I see are people having fun.   I celebrate all of your creativity.  I love these stories and I love how most of you are telling them.  Bring them on.

[LadyStitch]

The PP had to do another school thing this weekend.  When he got home he was in a hurry and asked if I would unload the car.  I got out to the car and proceed to pull out his hat, his dragon, his cat of nine tales, his stage rapier, his pirate coat, and tankard.  Has I turn around I spy a kid about 4 on the side walk stopped on his bike 5 feet from me. I turned and smile, and said hello.  He turned on his heel so fast and rode away as fast as he could to where his mom was standing at their garage door a couple houses down.  She slammed the door down and I could almost hear the bolt being thrown. 

I guess we are now officially the "crazy" neighbors.

[Lady Rosalind]

The PP had to do another school thing this weekend.  When he got home he was in a hurry and asked if I would unload the car.  I got out to the car and proceed to pull out his hat, his dragon, his cat of nine tales, his stage rapier, his pirate coat, and tankard.  Has I turn around I spy a kid about 4 on the side walk stopped on his bike 5 feet from me. I turned and smile, and said hello.  He turned on his heel so fast and rode away as fast as he could to where his mom was standing at their garage door a couple houses down.  She slammed the door down and I could almost hear the bolt being thrown. 

I guess we are now officially the "crazy" neighbors.

LOL!

I don't know if we freaked out anyone, but after the 4th of July parades, we had to stop at the grocery store to get dinner items... 5 of us in noble garb, two in crowns (I think they had just forgotten they were still wearing them).

[Dinobabe]

The PP had to do another school thing this weekend.  When he got home he was in a hurry and asked if I would unload the car.  I got out to the car and proceed to pull out his hat, his dragon, his cat of nine tales, his stage rapier, his pirate coat, and tankard.  Has I turn around I spy a kid about 4 on the side walk stopped on his bike 5 feet from me. I turned and smile, and said hello.  He turned on his heel so fast and rode away as fast as he could to where his mom was standing at their garage door a couple houses down.  She slammed the door down and I could almost hear the bolt being thrown. 

I guess we are now officially the "crazy" neighbors.

When we moved in to our house we made a point to let everyone know we were definitely the crazy people.  That way there were no surprises!   Now we are known as "that house".

[Lady Renee Buchanan]

I don't know why the idea of people dressing up and going to Ren Faires freaks people out so much.  When we stop somewhere in garb, either going to or coming from faire, and people ask - and they do ask - why we're dressed that way, I tell them we are historical re-enactors of the Renaissance era, and 100% of the time, their answer is "how cool!"

[Merlin the Elder]

You are putting it too nicely, Lady Renee 

[Jade]

 We had new neighbours move in two doors down.  The first time they saw me I was in my  Renaissance garb. I got a couple of weird  looks. Unfortunately I came  home and woke up with laryngitis.  What  voice I had sounded awful.  I was taking the dog out,  and the neighbor and I waved waved,  then he asked  how I was. I tried to answer,  but it sounded a lot like barking.   The look on his face as he backed up and went inside!

[Rowan MacD]

I don't know why the idea of people dressing up and going to Ren Faires freaks people out so much.  When we stop somewhere in garb, either going to or coming from faire, and people ask - and they do ask - why we're dressed that way, I tell them we are historical re-enactors of the Renaissance era, and 100% of the time, their answer is "how cool!"

A lot has to do with how you are dressed.  Nobles, peasants and trades people can get away with 'historical re-enactors', some folks will know you are with the Ren faire; while others will want to know where  'Shakespeare in the Park'  is at.   
  Fairies, Trolls and Elves are in a different category.   People are more likely to ask where the children's birthday party is! 

[Dinobabe]

I don't know why the idea of people dressing up and going to Ren Faires freaks people out so much.  When we stop somewhere in garb, either going to or coming from faire, and people ask - and they do ask - why we're dressed that way, I tell them we are historical re-enactors of the Renaissance era, and 100% of the time, their answer is "how cool!"

My grandma once told me it's because society dictates that adults aren't supposed to act like kids.  Her response was "Then why would I want to act like an adult?"  Go grandma!